12 articles
Kylian Mbappe scored twice in France's 6-4 defeat to England to reach 10 goals and lead the Golden Boot race. Lionel Messi, on eight, must strike at least twice against Spain tonight to overhaul him.
England raced 4-0 clear by half-time, survived a France fightback to 4-3, then pulled away through Bukayo Saka's hat-trick and Jude Bellingham's stoppage-time goal to take World Cup bronze at Hard Rock Stadium.
England led France 4-0 at the interval in the World Cup bronze match, with Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and a Bukayo Saka brace doing the damage. Sunday's final looms as the Golden Boot decider.
France and Spain meet in the first World Cup 2026 semi-final in Arlington on Tuesday, a rerun of the Euro 2024 last four, with a place in the final on the line.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are locked together on seven goals apiece as the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race turns into the tournament's defining storyline.
Kylian Mbappe's 70th-minute penalty was enough for France to beat Paraguay 1-0 in an ill-tempered Round of 16 tie, drawing him level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race and setting up a quarter-final against Morocco.
Kylian Mbappe surpasses Lionel Messi's record, Cristiano Ronaldo scores his first knockout goal at 39, and Switzerland's Johan Manzambi becomes the youngest player with five goal involvements since Pele.
Paraguay eliminated Germany on penalties in the biggest World Cup 2026 upset. Now they face France and Kylian Mbappe. Here is why this matchup is more dangerous for Les Bleus than the bracket suggests.
Kylian Mbappe has matched Lionel Messi's tournament-leading goal tally at the 2026 World Cup while breaking Ronaldo's all-time record and Haaland hunts from behind.
ESPN's post-group-stage panel rank France No. 1 with 16 of 20 first-place votes after a perfect group and a 3-0 win over Sweden, with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise driving the favourites.
France carry a perfect group record into a World Cup Round of 32 tie with Sweden, where Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé meet the speed of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres.
Barcelona host Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou knowing a win seals back-to-back La Liga titles - the form, tactics and stakes behind a Clásico with the championship on the line.
